Tag: travel business

  • Best Travel Business Ideas in India for Adventure Enthusiasts in 2025

    Traveling is an exciting experience that often leads to the birth of innovative business ideas, especially for entrepreneurs interested in tapping into the lucrative and ever-evolving travel industry. In today’s technologically advanced world, there is no limit to how entrepreneurs can leverage technology to enhance travel experiences.

    The possibilities are endless for travel businesses, from cutting-edge apps to VR experiences. While these are great options, traditional methods still have value. Innovative approaches that cater to client preferences, interests, and budgets can differentiate a travel agency from competitors. Balancing modern and traditional methods is critical to offering a unique experience that meets client needs. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best tour and travel business ideas that promise profitability and the opportunity to fuel your passion for exploration and adventure

    Travel Blogging and Vlogging
    Travel Agency
    Travel Photographer
    Luxury Cruises
    Travel Event Planner
    Local Experience Tours
    Vacation Rental Management
    Budget – Friendly Travel
    Glamping
    Adventure Outfitter
    Experiential Travel Concierge
    Sustainable Travel Consultancy
    Destination Wedding Planning

    $10 Trillion Economy : How Tourism Sector make India Economic Superpower by 2030? | Future of India

    Travel Blogging and Vlogging

    In the digital age, travel blogging and vlogging have emerged as powerful platforms for sharing your adventures and inspiring others. By leveraging your storytelling skills, photography, and videography talents, you can build a loyal following of travelers eager to experience the world through your eyes. Monetize your blog or vlog through advertising, sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and even the sale of digital products, such as e-books or travel guides.

    To succeed as a travel blogger or vlogger, developing a solid personal brand, creating consistently high-quality and engaging content, and fostering a genuine connection with your audience is essential. Leveraging social media and strategic partnerships can also help drive traffic and expand your reach.

    The key is to find your unique voice and perspective. Whether it’s highlighting off-the-beaten-path destinations, providing in-depth cultural insights, or inspiring adventurous outdoor experiences, your ability to captivate and inspire your audience will be the foundation for building a successful, profitable travel-focused digital content business.


    Travel and Tourism Industry Trends in 2021: Post-Pandemic
    Covid-19 has badly impacted the travel industry. Listing the top travel industry’s trends in 2021 that are likely to show up in the future.


    Travel Agency

    Establishing a travel agency can be a rewarding business venture for those with a deep understanding of the industry and a knack for curating exceptional travel experiences. As a travel agent, you can offer personalized itinerary planning, group travel coordination, and specialized services catered to niche markets, such as adventure, luxury, or sustainable travel. Leveraging your industry connections and expertise can help you stand out in a competitive landscape.

    By taking the time to understand your clients’ unique preferences, budgets, and travel goals, you can craft customized itineraries that maximize their experience and satisfaction. This level of personalization is difficult for online travel booking platforms to replicate, and it positions you as a trusted advisor rather than a mere booking agent. Having a travel agency is one of the traditional business ideas in India.

    Establishing strong industry connections is also crucial for the success of a travel agency. Building relationships with airlines, hotels, tour operators, and other travel providers can give you access to exclusive deals, priority bookings, and insider information that you can pass on to your clients. These connections can be a competitive advantage, especially for smaller, independent agencies.


    Top Tour & Travel Startups in India | Tourism Startups
    Travel startups are serving customers very innovative services and memorable experiences. We’ve listed the top tour & travel startups in India.


    Travel Photographer

    Becoming a travel photographer can be thrilling and lucrative for the visually inclined. Capture the essence of destinations, cultures, and experiences, and sell your stunning images to travelers, tourism boards, and various media outlets. 

    One of the primary revenue streams for travel photographers is selling their stunning images to travelers, tourism boards, and various media outlets. Travel publications, websites, and even social media platforms constantly seek captivating visuals that can transport viewers to far-flung corners of the world. By building a robust portfolio and effectively marketing your work, you can sell your photographs as stock imagery or secure licensing agreements for specific usage rights.

    Additionally, high-quality, professionally printed travel prints can appeal to travelers seeking to capture the memories of their journeys or decorate their homes and offices with stunning imagery.


    15 Ways To Earn Money While Travelling
    Want to travel the world and make money? We have listed some of the best options you can consider while travelling.


    Luxury Cruises

    The luxury cruise industry continues to soar, catering to travelers seeking elevated experiences at sea. As a luxury cruise operator, you can offer bespoke itineraries, premium amenities, and exceptional service, appealing to a discerning clientele. Leverage your hospitality, culinary arts, and destination curation expertise to create unforgettable voyages that set you apart from the competition. 

    By leveraging your expertise in hospitality, culinary arts, and destination curation, you can craft itineraries that go beyond the typical cruise experience. This could include unique shore excursions, private VIP events, and custom-designed onboard programming that caters to your guests’ specific interests and preferences.

    To further enhance the luxury cruise experience, you can invest in premium amenities and enriching activities that cater to your discerning clientele. This could include state-of-the-art spa facilities, fitness centers, wellness programs, immersive cultural experiences, educational lectures, and opportunities for exploration and adventure. 

    Travel Event Planner

    Organize and coordinate unique travel-themed events, such as adventure retreats, wellness getaways, or culinary-focused experiences. Leverage your knowledge of travel logistics, vendor management, and event production to curate seamless and memorable events that attract adventure-seeking participants. By carefully selecting suitable venues, adventure providers, and support staff, you can create a truly immersive and unforgettable retreat that leaves participants rejuvenated and inspired.

    Wellness-focused travel events are another growing trend that you can capitalize on. Curating all-inclusive getaways that combine relaxation, mindfulness practices, and holistic therapies can attract a discerning clientele seeking to prioritize their physical and mental well-being.

    By combining your expertise in travel logistics and event production and a deep understanding of the evolving preferences of adventure-seeking, wellness-conscious, and culinary-focused travelers, you can create unique and highly desirable travel-themed events that stand out in a competitive market.


    How to Become Best at Event Planning?
    Event planning is a cool job to have but hard to execute. Check out the tips to become the best event planner.


    Local Experience Tours

    Tap into the growing demand for authentic, immersive travel experiences by offering local experience tours. Showcase the hidden gems, cultural nuances, and everyday lives of the communities you serve, allowing travelers to connect with the destination more profoundly and meaningfully. Collaborate with local guides, artisans, and businesses to create unforgettable, one-of-a-kind experiences.

    The key to success in this space lies in your ability to collaborate closely with local guides, artisans, and businesses to create truly unforgettable, one-of-a-kind experiences. These intimate, immersive tours should go beyond the typical tourist attractions and provide travelers with a genuine understanding of the local way of life. This enhances the overall travel experience, supports the local economy, and helps preserve the cultural heritage of the communities you engage with.

    Vacation Rental Management

    As the popularity of vacation rentals continues to rise, offering vacation rental management services can be a lucrative business opportunity. Manage the end-to-end process, from listing properties and handling guest inquiries and bookings to ensuring the properties are well-maintained and cleaned between stays. 

    You can position your vacation rental management business as a trusted and reliable partner for property owners by leveraging your hospitality expertise, marketing prowess, and customer service skills. This, in turn, will attract a steady stream of high-quality properties to manage and a growing base of satisfied guests who appreciate the seamless experience you provide.

    Additionally, by staying informed about industry trends, implementing cutting-edge technologies, and continuously enhancing your service offerings, you can differentiate your vacation rental management business and maintain a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving market.

    Budget – Friendly Travel

    Cater to the growing segment of budget-conscious travelers by offering affordable yet memorable travel experiences. This could involve organizing group trips, planning logistics for backpackers and solo travelers, or curating budget-friendly itineraries that maximize value without sacrificing quality. Leverage your knowledge of budget-friendly accommodations, transportation, and local insider tips to provide an exceptional travel experience at a fraction of the cost.

    One fundamental approach is to organize group trips, which can offer significant cost savings for individual travelers. By negotiating group rates with accommodation providers, transportation companies, and activity operators, you can pass on the savings to your participants. This model also allows you to create a sense of community and shared experience, appealing to solo travelers and backpackers looking to connect with like-minded adventurers.

    Effective marketing and promotion will also be crucial in reaching your desired clientele. Leveraging social media, travel forums, and strategic partnerships with complementary brands can help you connect with the budget-conscious traveler community and build a strong brand reputation. 

    Glamping

    Capitalizing on the rising trend of “glamorous camping,” or glamping, can be a unique and lucrative business opportunity. Offer upscale, luxury camping experiences with plush amenities, gourmet meals, and stunning natural settings. Leverage your creativity, attention to detail, and understanding of the great outdoors to provide travelers with a one-of-a-kind glamping experience.

    Provide spacious, well-appointed tents or eco-friendly “glamping” structures with high-end furnishings, comfortable bedding, and thoughtful amenities like en-suite bathrooms, heating/cooling systems, and private decks—partner with skilled chefs to curate a culinary experience that elevates the typical camping fare. Offer multi-course meals with locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, complemented by fine wines and craft cocktails. Ensure that your guests are attended to with the highest level of hospitality, from dedicated on-site staff to anticipatory concierge services that address their every need. These innovative ideas for travel business can inspire growth and fresh experiences.

    Market size of the travel and tourism market in India in 2023, with forecast until 2030
    Market size of the travel and tourism market in India in 2023, with forecast until 2030

    Adventure Outfitter

    For the more adventurous spirits, consider establishing an outdoor adventure outfitter business. Offer guided tours, equipment rentals, and logistical support for hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, or whitewater rafting activities. Leverage your expertise in outdoor recreation, safety protocols, and customer service to create unforgettable adventures for your customers and cosidering it as one of the best adventure business ideas in India.

    To ensure the success of your outdoor adventure outfitter business, it’s crucial to maintain a strong focus on safety and risk management. This includes providing comprehensive training for your guides, maintaining high-quality equipment, and adhering to industry best practices for each activity offered.

    Consider incorporating additional services such as equipment rentals, transportation logistics, and custom trip planning to enhance your offerings further. This one-stop-shop approach can simplify your clients’ planning process and increase your services’ overall value.

    Experiential Travel Concierge

    Tourism Business Ideas - Experiential Travel Journeys
    Tourism Business Ideas – Experiential Travel Journeys

    Travelling business ideas in India are booming, with growing demand for eco-tourism, adventure travel, destination weddings, and personalized travel planning, offering entrepreneurs exciting opportunities. Become an experiential travel concierge, catering to travelers seeking bespoke, immersive experiences. Utilize your extensive knowledge of destinations, cultural nuances, and local connections to curate highly personalized itineraries beyond typical tourist offerings. Offer services such as private tours, exclusive access to local events, and customized activities that allow travelers to immerse themselves in the destination truly.

    As an experiential travel concierge, you provide your clients with a truly elevated and customized travel experience. This goes far beyond simply booking flights and hotels – crafting a unique, one-of-a-kind journey that immerses travelers in the destination deeply.

    To excel as an experiential travel concierge, you must understand your target destinations in-depth, cultivate a robust network of local contacts, and have a keen eye for detail. Continuously researching emerging trends, staying up-to-date with the latest developments, and fostering relationships with travel industry partners will provide your clients exceptional experiences.

    Sustainable Travel Consultancy

    Tourism Business Ideas - Sustainable Tourism Consultants
    Tourism Business Ideas – Sustainable Tourism Consultants

    As environmental consciousness grows, there is an increasing demand for sustainable and responsible travel options. Establish a sustainable travel consultancy, advising individuals and organizations on eco-friendly travel practices, carbon-neutral accommodations, and responsible tourism initiatives. Leverage your expertise in sustainable travel to help clients plan and execute their journeys in a way that minimizes their environmental impact.

    By positioning yourself as a knowledgeable and reliable sustainable travel expert, you can help your clients navigate the complex landscape of eco-friendly travel options and make informed decisions that align with their values and environmental objectives. This contributes to the overall sustainability of the travel industry and positions your consultancy as a valuable resource in a rapidly growing market.

    Destination Wedding Planning

    Offer destination wedding planning services, helping couples design and host their dream weddings in beautiful locations worldwide. This service blends travel planning with event coordination, handling everything from venue selection and guest accommodations to local vendors and cultural experiences. The goal is to create a stress-free, memorable celebration, tailored to each couple’s vision while ensuring seamless logistics. It is one of the most profitable travelling business ideas.

    FAQs

    How can I make money as a travel blogger or vlogger?

    Monetization methods for travel blogs/vlogs include advertising, sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and selling digital products like ebooks or guides. Building a strong brand, high-quality content, and audience engagement are key.

    What services does a vacation rental management company provide?

    These companies handle the full process of marketing vacation rental properties, guest communication/bookings, cleaning, and property maintenance for rental owners.

    What is glamping?

    Glamping refers to upscale, luxurious camping with amenities like high-end accommodations, furnishings, chef-prepared meals, and resort-style services in outdoor settings. Glamping is one of the best tour and travels business ideas.

    How can I focus on sustainable tour and travel as a business?

    As a sustainable travel consultant, you can advise clients on eco-friendly accommodations, carbon offsetting, responsible tourism practices, and minimizing environmental impact.

    Tourism-related business ideas include destination wedding planning, offering couples dream weddings in scenic locations, and eco-tourism services, promoting sustainable travel experiences. Other options are adventure tourism for thrill-seekers, cultural tours that explore local traditions, and travel consultancy to help clients plan personalized trips. Each idea taps into travelers’ desire for unique and memorable experiences.

    What are tourism startup ideas?

    Tourism startup ideas include destination wedding planning, eco-tourism services, adventure tourism, cultural tours, and travel consultancy, catering to travelers seeking unique experiences.

  • Air India – Tata Group Owned Aviation Business Excelling In Affordability and Comfort

    Company Profile is an initiative by StartupTalky to publish verified information on different startups and organizations. The content in this post has been approved by Air India.

    Air India is the country’s best flying ambassador. Thanks to the 18,000 Air Indians who have continued the legacy of rising high, the drive to succeed and the passion that marked Air-inaugural India’s flight on October 15, 1932, is still indisputably present today.

    In addition to domestic flights, Air India, covers southern and eastern Asia, Europe,  the Middle East, Africa, the United States, Australia, and Canada. It was formed in 1932 (as Tata Airlines) and headquartered in Mumbai.

    After the transaction was finalised by Air India Limited’s previous owner, the Government of India, it is now held by Talace Private Limited, a Special-Purpose Vehicle of Tata Sons.

    Know more about Air India, its company history, business model, funding and investors, etc.

    Air India Company Highlights

    Startup Name Air India
    Headquarters New Delhi
    Industry Aviation
    Founder J.R.D. Tata
    Founded 1932 ( as Tata Airlines in Mumbai)
    Valuation ₹ 14,718 Crore
    Revenue ₹ 26,430 Crore
    Parent Organisation Tata Group
    Website airindia.in

    Air India – How it Works?
    Air India – Industry
    Air India – Founder
    Air India – Startup Story
    Air India – Name, Logo, and Tagline
    Air India – Mission, and Vision
    Air India – Products
    Air India – Business Model
    Air India – Marketing Campaigns
    Air India – Acquisitions
    Air India – Competitors
    Air India – Challenges Faced
    Air India – Future Plans

    Air India Case Study

    Air India – How it Works?

    Bharat Ratna J.R.D. Tata founded an airline in 1932, realising his ambition and beginning the path that would become Air India. His love of flying, which led him to become the first Indian to acquire a commercial pilot’s licence, ignited the beginnings of Air India with the introduction of postal service from then-Bombay to Karachi via Ahmedabad. Since becoming nationalised in 1953, Air India has grown to become a significant domestic and international brand.

    After joining Star Alliance, the largest global airline alliance, in July 2014, Air India’s international connectivity, which includes cities in Europe, The United States, The United Kingdom, Africa, the Gulf, Asia, and Australia, was improved. The airline flies to every remote county in our nation.

    It has consistently stood by the country and its citizens in times of need and has been crucial in evacuation operations throughout crises like the Gulf War, the Coronavirus pandemic, and the most recent situation in Ukraine.

    After re-joining the Tata Group on January 27, 2022, Air India is ready for takeoff, reinventing its objectives and strategy with a focus on overall excellence and customer-centric procedures.

    Mr. Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus, Tata Sons, said on the occasion, “The Tata group welcomes Air India’s new customers and is thrilled to work together to make Air India the airline of choice in terms of passenger comfort and service.”

    102 local and foreign destinations are served by the fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft operated by Air India. Along with many key cities around India, the airline has its hub at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. With a market share of 18.6%, Air India is the biggest airline operating in India. Air India offers service to more than 60 overseas locations on four continents. On July 11, 2014, the airline joined Star Alliance as its 27th member.

    Air India – Industry

    Almost all facets of air travel and the operations that support it are included in the aviation business. This implies that it covers the whole airline sector as well as the manufacture of aircraft, research organisations, military aviation, and much more.
    The number of operational aircraft in the global aviation fleet at the start of 2022 was equal to that of 2017. However, at 25,500, it was about double the epidemic low mark set in the middle of 2020.

    The business is now again set up for a decade of development after the Covid-19 outbreak lasted for two years. Domestic travel demand is anticipated to approach its pre-pandemic high in early 2023 on a worldwide scale. The projection then calls for continued growth through the rest of the decade at rates that even outpace improvements in GDP.

    The ten years through 2032 are likely to be packed with problems that will put aviation’s resilience and profitability to the test, unlike the ten years between 2010 and 2019 when the sector had stable yearly gains in demand. The key issue for aviation going ahead is not its capacity for growth, but rather it’s capacity for profitable growth.

    Air India – Founder

    Air India is founded by Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata on 29 July 1946.

    J.R.D Tata

    J.R.D Tata - Founder of  Air India
    J.R.D Tata – Founder of Air India

    Indian aviator, manufacturer, businessman, and head of the Tata Group, JRD Tata was a non-resident Indian, son of renowned industrialist Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata and his spouse Suzanne Brière. His mother was the first Indian lady to drive a vehicle, and he was the country’s first-ever certified pilot in 1929. He is most known for founding various businesses that are part of the Tata Group, including Voltas, Air India, Titan Industries, Tata Consultancy Services, and Tata Motors. He won two of India’s highest civilian honours—the Padma Vibhushan and the Bharat Ratna—in 1955 and 1992, as well as the French Legion of Honor in 1983.

    Air India – Startup Story

    In 1932, Air India launched Tata Airlines under the name of its founder, J. R. D. Tata. Between the Indian cities of Ahmadabad, Bombay, Bellary, and Madras and Karachi, Pakistan, the line transported mail and people. Within a short period, Tata Airlines’ itineraries featured stops in Trivandrum, Delhi, Colombo, Lahore, and other nearby Indian towns.

    After World War II was over, the airline changed its name to Air-India Limited and went public. With the government owning a 49 per cent stake in the business, the airline expanded its reach outside of India in just two years, operating frequent flights to Cairo, Geneva, and London. The name of the company was once again changed to Air-India International Limited to reflect its expanded range of services.

    For a variety of factors, India fared better in the airline business than the majority of other emerging nations. Air India mostly used native-born pilots, unlike other airlines which had to rely on foreign pilots to fly their aircraft. Similar to how many competent Indians were available to maintain India’s fleet and educate and manage its workforce, many other nations had to look outside of their borders for this type of knowledge. Along with its sibling carriers, Air-India profited from these benefits.

    Early in the 1950s, Air India saw competition for its routes for the first time. Due to the affordable, war-surplus DC-3s that were becoming available, several new airlines were starting to emerge. There were no less than 21 established airlines, 11 of which had been granted permission to operate in Indian airspace.

    Expanding its aviation business even further was one of Air India’s main objectives for the nineties. At the start of the decade, Air-India accounted for around 30% of the country’s air cargo business, with more than three dozen foreign airlines transporting the remaining 70%. To expand its ability to transport exports, the airline intended to hire more jet freighters. The International Airports Authority of India enhanced the ground handling and infrastructure at the entrances it manages, increasing its appeal to airlines and freight forwarders. With these modifications in place, cargo revenue for the 1990 fiscal year was the US $195 million, or 21% of Air India’s revenue.

    Air India – Name, Logo, and Tagline

    When J. R. D. Tata of Tata Sons, an Indian aviator and business mogul, launched Air India, it was originally known as Tata Air Services before changing its name to Tata Airlines. The airline used a six-seat Miles Merlin to launch its inaugural domestic route from Bombay to Trivandrum. It was given a new name in 1938, first as Tata Air Services and then as Tata Airlines.

    Although its founder J. R. D. Tata would continue in that role as Chairman until 1977, the Government of India approved the Air Corporations Act in 1953 and bought a controlling share in the airline from Tata Sons.

    As part of a reorganisation, the business was given the new name Air India International Limited and the domestic services were given to Indian Airlines.

    The tagline of Air India says, “Air India… Truly Indian”

    The airline’s previous logo included an orange “Konark Chakra” inside of a crimson flying swan. The soaring swan is a modified version of the iconic Air India emblem, “The Centaur,” while the “Konark Chakra” is evocative of the Indian logo.

    Air India – Mission, and Vision

    Air India’s mission statement says, “to deliver the highest quality of service around the world and be the epitome of Indian hospitality and to be India’s flag carrier and provide seamless travel within India and the world.”

    Air India’s vision is, “to become India’s most efficient and preferred LCC on regional and international routes; constantly exceeding guest’ expectations in terms of quality, affordability, convenience and comfort.”

    Air India – Products

    Air India is one of India’s largest airlines, offering both international and local flights. Transport for people and goods was originally Air India’s two main services. But in 2012, the freight transport was shut down. It exclusively uses passenger transportation for operation. For the same, it makes use of Boeing and Airbus aircraft.

    Some of its key products include premium lounges and in-flight entertainment. It also rents a number of its fleets to cut costs while maintaining quality. Air India’s extensive network of routes allows it to provide flights to the world’s most significant cities and commercial hubs. To encourage repeat business from its customers, it offers a high degree of safety.


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    Air India – Business Model

    Air India's Financial Performance (2016 - 2020)
    Air India’s Financial Performance (2016 – 2020)

    According to the much research conducted and information obtained, Air India has solidified its position as India’s largest and most productive air carrier on all fronts. Millions of travellers regularly use their service, which is current and useful.

    They aggressively position themselves in the market utilising a range of marketing strategies, such as social media campaigns and advertising, to tell customers about upcoming packages and other things. Customers consider their affordable costs to be a competitive advantage and a selling point. Overall, they have reached new heights while maintaining their innovativeness thanks to their marketing and sales strategies.

    Some of the elements that determine the pricing include the path used by air traffic, the distance travelled, and the number of stops made along the trip. Given how fiercely competitive the airline industry is, competitive pricing makes sense. Within a flight, there are simultaneously two different pricing ranges:

    • Economy class
    • Business-class

    Middle-class families may easily afford flight tickets on Air India. Business-class passengers are the main target of premium pricing since they are more likely to pay for and use premium services.

    Air India – Marketing Campaigns

    Through various media, including print, radio, television, and internet platforms, marketing efforts spread the word about items. It connects with the client by conveying a relevant message in addition to promoting the goods. The greatest and safest travel experience is promised by Air India campaigns.

    • A dig at Indigo – After a video showed one of their personnel fighting a passenger, Air India posted two advertisements on Twitter in a covert thread towards IndiGo Airlines. Air India poked fun at IndiGo after the assault incident by promising “unbeatable service” and using the letter “beat” in blue, IndiGo’s signature colour. The second one has the slogan, “We raise our hands ONLY to offer namaste,” and features Air India’s mascot, “Maharaja,” in his signature pose. On Twitter, people criticised IndiGo over the event and called for a boycott of the airline.
    • Mascot – The Air India Maharaja, arguably the country’s most known mascot, is typically seen standing with his hands in a polite namaste or bowing with his palm placed over his heart to greet visitors. But the mascot has since undergone several additional changes. Let’s examine a few of them.
    • War Ads – Air India and IndiGo are in war advertising. To entice customers, Air India is boosting up its advertising effort. Right behind IndiGo’s check-in desks, Air India posted an advertisement on a wall panel that said, “Next time fly with Air India and experience the difference.” Although no competitors are mentioned, the strategic positioning speaks for itself. Even IndiGo made no concessions. It responded to Air India with a commercial.

    However, the national carrier has never engaged in such aggressive marketing. With loud advertising and promotional discounts, Air India is attempting to get consumer attention.

    Air India – Acquisitions

    Acquiree Name About Acquiree Date Amount
    AirAsia India AirAsia India provides scheduled air passenger transportation, air cargo transportation, and charter flight services. Jun 14, 2022


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    Air India – Competitors

    Top competitors in the competitive list of Air India are:-

    • Indigo
    • Jet Airways
    • Go Air
    • Air Asia
    • Etihad
    • Oman Air
    • Thai Airways
    • Singapore Airlines
    • Emirates
    • Jet Airways
    • Spicejet

    Air India – Challenges Faced

    The COVID-19 outbreak and rising fuel prices, according to claims in the media, are expected to lead India’s airlines to suffer their largest-ever loss of almost 20,000 crore rupees this fiscal year. Since its merger with Indian Airlines in 2007–2008, the airline has never turned a profit. In actuality, it disclosed a 7,017 crore rupee loss for FY21. The Tatas want to increase on-time performance and in-flight amenities now that they are back in the Air India cockpit. They must also encourage a corporate culture among the airline’s staff. Problems like outdated aircraft and subpar cabin goods must also be addressed.

    The fleet’s update and maintenance come next. Air India has 141 aircraft in its fleet, a mix of narrow and wide-body Airbus and Boeing models, but has committed to giving Tatas just 118 of them in flyable condition. The 787 fleet of Air India’s airline is likewise severely short on components and engines. Tata group discovered that at any one moment, at least five 787s were sitting idle owing to a lack of engines. On the Boeing 777 fleet, which serves as the backbone of Air India’s successful US operations, at least two aircraft have been determined to be unfit for flight, and the others require extensive refurbishment.

    How well the Tata Group will organise its aviation operations is an equally significant task.

    Air India – Future Plans

    “In terms of fleet, we know we have work to do,” Natarajan Chandrasekaran, chairman of the Tata Group, told. “We will address it with utmost urgency. We’ll upgrade our fleet, we’ll bring modernity in our fleet, we’ll bring a new fleet.”

    In the upcoming months, Mr Chandrasekaran informed employees that Air India will swiftly boost the number of its narrow-body and wide-body aircraft. The average fleet age of Air India is more than ten years.

    As per the company’s site, its fleet presently consists of 153 aircraft. This comprises 49 wide-body aircraft produced by Boeing and Airbus, including planes from the most popular 320 and 737 families. This is a challenging combination since each kind of aircraft demands a different set of pilot and crew skill sets.

    Even though reductions are typical in such huge agreements, a sale for 50 brand-new 787-9 planes may be worth $14.6 billion at sticker pricing. The oldest models of the fuel-efficient workhorse are flown by Air India, one of the Boeing Dreamliner’s earliest purchasers worldwide, albeit some of them are still grounded owing to a lack of components.

    FAQs

    When was Air India founded?

    Air India was founded in 1932 (as Tata Airlines) and headquartered in Mumbai.

    Who is the founder of Air India?

    Air India was founded by Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata in 1946 in New Delhi.

    Is Air India and AirAsia India same?

    Air India acquired AirAsia India on Jun 14, 2022.

    Who are the top competitors of Air India?

    Top competitors in the competitive list of Air India are:-

    • Indigo
    • Jet Airways
    • Go Air
    • Air Asia
    • Etihad
    • Oman Air
    • Thai Airways
    • Singapore Airlines
    • Emirates
    • Jet Airways
    • Spicejet

    Who is the owner of Air India?

    Air India is owned by Tata Group.

    Who is the CEO of Air India?

    Campbell Wilson is the CEO of Air India since 12 May 2022.

  • ScoutMyTrip: Helping You Plan Those Memorable Road Trips!

    Company Profile is an initiative by StartupTalky to publish verified information on different startups and organizations. The content in this post has been approved by ScoutMyTrip.

    Road trips have a different charm altogether. Stopping by to click photos, trying local food on the way, and those endless chit-chats—what could be more endearing? The experience gets even better and hassle-free when there is proper guidance for making the most of one’s trip: what to see on the way, where to refuel, where the nearest viewpoint is, etc.

    ScoutMyTrip, a Mumbai-based startup, is doing exactly this. The startup plans the nitty-gritty details of your road trip to make it a cherishable experience. Here’s all you need to know about ScoutMyTrip, its founders and team, startup story, business and revenue model, funding and investors, name, logo,, competitors, advisors, challenges, future plans, and more.

    ScoutMyTrip – Company Highlights

    Startup Name ScoutMyTrip
    Headquarters Mumbai
    Founders Deepak Ananth and Vineet Rajan
    Sector Travel and Tourism
    Founded 2016
    Parent Organization ScoutMyTrip Private Limited

    ScoutMyTrip – About
    ScoutMyTrip – Industry Details
    ScoutMyTrip – Founders And Team
    ScoutMyTrip – Startup Story | How It Began?
    ScoutMyTrip – Name And Logo
    ScoutMyTrip – Business Model and Services
    ScoutMyTrip – Revenue Model
    ScoutMyTrip – Funding And Investors
    ScoutMyTrip – User Acquisition
    ScoutMyTrip – Startup Challenges
    ScoutMyTrip – Competitors
    ScoutMyTrip – Advisors And Mentors
    ScoutMyTrip – Awards
    ScoutMyTrip – Future Plans

    ScoutMyTrip – About

    It is a road trip planner which conflates human intelligence with artificial intelligence to help plan the perfect road trip for individuals. ScoutMyTrip works for all sorts of outings, from short weekend travels to long excursions.

    With artificial intelligence, customers can create an itinerary containing the information necessary for their road trip—gas stations, toilets, restaurants, hotels to stay in, and points of interest. The human intelligence aspect brings in the ability to personalize the information as per one’s needs.

    ScoutMyTrip envisions making road trips the preferred means of vacation.  

    An industry first product has been introduced where a Scout (travel expert for the specific region) is virtually assisting the customer throughout the journey (before and during the trip). The Scouts give you the regional flavor and make one’s holiday joyous. We call this ‘Mark and Embark’! Our team is hard at work in building great tech and striving for customer delight each time.

    ScoutMyTrip – Industry Details

    As far as the market is concerned, the road-tripping industry is a subset of a much larger travel domain.  

    “Our total addressable market is pegged at $6.6B with 33 million leisure road trips in one calendar year. This is growing at a very fast rate and we expect it to double in 3 years time. Globally, this market stands at $100B which is really what we are after; but we want to establish ourselves well in the subcontinent which is why we have started operations in Nepal and Bhutan as well” says Vineet.

    ScoutMyTrip – Founders And Team

    Deepak Ananth and Vineet Rajan are the founders of ScoutMyTrip.

    Deepak Ananth & Vineet Rajan, ScoutMyTrip Founders
    Deepak Ananth & Vineet Rajan, ScoutMyTrip Founders

    Deepak Ananth

    Deepak Ananth is the CEO and Co-founder of ScoutMyTrip. He is an Electronics graduate and had been in the corporate space for a really long time, his last assignment being with Verifone as a Director for South-East Asia. Ananth is also known as a storyteller, who loves to travel and sip on fine scotch and old monk. Ananth has a Royal Enfield 500cc bike, and his favorite trip is from Mumbai to Shillong and back.

    Vineet Rajan

    Vineet Rajan was the Co-founder and CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) of ScoutMyTrip. Vineet is a Computer Science graduate and has an MBA. Vineet has been involved with various startups throughout his career, and currently works as a Marketing Leader at SAP. After leaving ScoutMyTrip in April 2021 as an Advisor, Rajan joined Shop101 as the Head of Marketing Communications & Organic Growth. Vineet left the Co-founder position of the company in June 2020 and then remained an Advisor for the company before stepping down from that too.

    Deepak and Vineet met each other during a road trip organized by a bikers’ club they were part of. They also held official positions in one of the most sought-after Royal Enfield groups. This gave them a chance to collaborate in non-professional capacities. Their thoughts resonated since both wanted to do something unique in the domain of road trips, thus deliberating over possible ideas in 2015.

    In terms of workload, Deepak has been responsible for the overall strategy and public relations while Vineet looked into the marketing and sales segment. Soumen Bhowmick serves as the Head of Business Development.

    Neeraj Sinha was the CTO and used to manage everything to do with tech. Neeraj Sinha worked at a prestigious company, with excellent remuneration and an experience worth mentioning, but he left all of it just because of his love for travelling, which was fulfilled when he joined ScoutMyTrip after working for around 14 years with the same organisation. Though his father was in the Railways, he had seen the real struggle, as per several interviews, where he stated that his father was left with hardly any money in the middle of the month. This was what drove him away from the government sector jobs, thereby placing him in the private sector. Neeraj started with some odd jobs like that of the EDP Operator but he eventually pursued an MCA degree from IGNOU, and then he never looked back. Sinha soon joined Sopra Steria, then known as Xansa, as a Software Engineer in 2002.

    In 2015, we had started talking about putting our collective experience of road tripping so many kilometers into a tech product which can help other travelers. So a ‘road trip’ called ScoutMyTrip began! Building a work drives us – and that is the common area of interest for us. Our team sticks with us; because of the independence we give them in their working style. We measure results; and not the means.  

    ScoutMyTrip – Startup Story | How It Began?

    Both Deepak and Vineet happen to be road trip aficionados. It was this love which inspired them to conceive ScoutMyTrip with a view to guide road-trippers on making the most out of leisurely travels.

    We picked this idea because both of us love road trips. Having road tripped on the iconic Royal Enfield bikes in India with over 600,000 kilometers between us; we decided to build a solution that will help people road trip better. Because not everyone will have the knowledge of roads as we would do.

    While maps have been the traditional go-to for navigational requirements, ScoutMyTrip is building a new category in road trip planning. The ideation process for ScoutMyTrip started back in late 2015.

    ScoutMyTrip has been designed after taking suggestions from men and women consumed by wanderlust (not limited to bikers) and scouts to make the product more customer-centric. The product’s features are the results of the feedback from more than 500 fellow travelers and Scouts. The ScoutMyTrip team carried out a survey involving over 1000 people (including individuals not too inclined towards travelling) to cover every possible scenario. This is imperative given the dynamics of the decision-making process when it comes to travelling. The team also reached out to members of various travel clubs in India. The intimate discussions with these travel communities have been pivotal in onboarding travel experts for helping others.

    Some of the first people we spoke to about ScoutMyTrip were all kicked. From investors, the biking community, travel forums and everyone around. We did, however, get a sense that we would have to establish ourselves very quickly; and hence we started seed funded the company in 2016.


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    Since the startup emphasized having seasoned travelers help plan trips, it wanted to have the essence of a ‘guide’ in its name. After much consideration, the name ScoutMyTrip was finalized for it captured this essence through ‘Scout’.

    ScoutMyTrip Logo

    The Logo shows an inverted magnifying glass and signifies a bird pecking when seen straight (birds usually symbolize freedom). The road in the center is symbolic of travelling. The three colors represent the brand’s values—community, safety and fun.

    A lot of thought has gone into the logo. A good friend Kirtee understood our requirements and came up with that effective logo. We still sometimes joke about how much we troubled her for the logo but wherever we go, we get great feedback on the logo and that is always music to the ears of any founder.


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    ScoutMyTrip – Business Model and Services

    ScoutMyTrip is a freemium product. Customer can sign up for free on the website and can plan their road trips using the planner for a lifetime. The planner allows the user to add 25-way points (Google allows you just 10) on their route. It suggests places to stay and eat, gas stations, and things to do—all under one platform.

    Customers can choose to pay a premium in case they would like assistance with their planning. They are then assigned Scouts who help not just in building itineraries but also by providing virtual assistance throughout the trip.

    ScoutMyTrip from the beginning has followed a very community-centric approach. Be it a community of travelers or that of Scouts. It’s always about the people with technology which revolves around it. Scouts are the key differentiator for us. We’re a marketplace of travel experts who curate the best on the road experiences.

    ScoutMyTrip has partnered with travel experts and individuals from different parts of India. These skilled individuals know the local haunts, have adequate knowledge about different places to visit and are the best people to reach out to for a well-planned road trip. ScoutMyTrip has a reach all over India and also services Indian travelers visiting Nepal and Bhutan.

    The company has scaled quite a few times – from being just another travel agency to doing marketing campaigns for travel brands and now fully focusing on helping people plan awesome road trips.

    Itinerary Created by ScoutMyTrip
    Itinerary Created by ScoutMyTrip

    ScoutMyTrip – Revenue Model

    ScoutMyTrip has a well-planned revenue model and earns revenue from the following sources:

    • Hiring a Scout: When a traveler contacts an expert (Scout), ScoutMyTrip earns a percentage of the planning fee. The rates vary from Rs. 2000 to Rs. 9000 and can go up to Rs. 50,000 for custom trips and itineraries.
    • Platform integrations: The planner can be integrated with other travel websites for a wholesome user experience.
    • Corporate tie-ups and group tours: ScoutMyTrip has been successfully doing this for more than a year now and has organized over 500 group road trips for individuals and corporate houses.
    • Road trip packages: Once the trips are planned, the ScoutMyTrip Experience team bundles the following as part of the package:

      – Hotel bookings

         – Self-drive cars and taxis

         – Guides

         – Roadside assistance/insurance


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    ScoutMyTrip – Funding And Investors

    ScoutMyTrip raised seed funding from Z Nation Lab in April 2017.

    Funding Date Funding Stage Funding Amount Investors
    April 2017 Angel Round Undisclosed Z Nation Lab

    ScoutMyTrip – User Acquisition

    ScoutMyTrip was launched for insider access or closed beta in October 2016. It got its first 5000 signups in one month and there has been no looking back ever since. ScoutMyTrip had incidentally launched its blog much before the website came into existence. This allowed the company to build communication with its target customers. Through its blogs, the team was able to expound the vision for its product to an eagerly awaiting consumer base.

    Content marketing has been a driver for ScoutMyTrip. The company has approximately 90 % of its users coming through social media platforms powered by influencers already a part of the ScoutMyTrip community. Word of mouth publicity also has been a good contributor for ScoutMyTrip with around 10% of user acquisition from this stream.

    The majority of spending by ScoutMyTrip in the marketing space are on Facebook and Instagram advertising. A lot more time is vested on SEO and building great content which markets itself.

    ScoutMyTrip takes pride in being a content-driven brand and has taken ownership of three intellectual properties to keep in touch with its focus group—the travel enthusiasts.

    • The Great Indian Food Trip: The Great Indian Food Trip is an exploratory drive-by ScoutMyTrip through the hinterlands of India for rediscovering some of the most iconic and largely lost gems of Indian cuisine.
    • The Highest Blogger Meet: The idea here is to take influential bloggers from different walks of life to the highest motorable roads in the world. On those roads, ScoutMyTrip hosts a blogger meet, setting a record in terms of altitude each time. The last successful attempt was at Khardung La in partnership with OYO Rooms.
    • #AageSeRight: A viral sensation on Instagram that is common amongst road trippers. AageSeRight is a Hindi phrase used as a response when asking for directions; ScoutMyTrip was able to create a medium of brand recall through this hashtag.  

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    ScoutMyTrip – Startup Challenges

    Deepak and Vineet had the most modest upbringing, belonging to middle-class Indian families. Deepak had been working in corporate roles (at senior positions in reputed companies) for over 20 years before ScoutMyTrip. Vineet had an entrepreneurial mindset throughout his career but his only brush was by being a member of an established startup. As a result, launching a startup was no less than a challenge due to lack of prior experience as told by Vineet.

    Whether such a platform would find a place and apprehensions about them treading the right path plagued the founders in the initial phase.  

    Our families were very supportive. Parents who heard us out asked the right questions and then wholeheartedly supported us, spouses who stood by us, ready to fight the same battles along with us, helped to make our minds up, much easier.    

    ScoutMyTrip – Competitors

    As Vineet says, the biggest competitors are the airlines and railways, which make up for over 80% of all travel spends in India. Google Maps is a formidable opponent given its reach and popularity when it comes to navigation.

    Globally, ScoutMyTrip faces resistance from Road Trippers and Furkot, which are slowly building their presence in India. Desi competitors include Easy Roads and Highway Delite. However, the highly experienced Scouts associated with ScoutMyTrip are its USP and the major differentiator from its competitors.

    We are different in terms of us being a very community driven space where our Scouts are the USP to ScoutMyTrip. We encourage road trips for everyone and plan it keeping in mind the likes of our customers.

    ScoutMyTrip – Advisors And Mentors

    ScoutMyTrip’s investor, Z Nation Labs, is also its primary mentor.

    We get great support, industry connects and advice from the leadership team of Z Nation labs which includes Amit Jain, Anup Mehta and Neha Jain.  

    After being incubated by NASSCOM’s 10,000 Startups initiative and the Maharashtra State Innovation Society, ScoutMyTrip is getting regular support from its team as well.

    ScoutMyTrip – Awards

    ScoutMyTrip has had its fair share of recognition including the recent incubation by NASSCOM’s 10,000 startups initiative. The honors bestowed on ScoutMyTrip in 2019 are:

    • April 2019 – Selected as one of the Top Startups by NASSCOM as part of the 10,000 Startups Program.
    • March 2019 – Recognized by Startup India / DIPP.
    • February 2019 –Winners of the Maharashtra Startup Week by the Govt. of Maharashtra.
    • January 2019 – Entrepreneur India listed ScoutMyTrip as the top 50 startups to watch out for in 2019.
    • July 2019 – ScoutMyTrip won the Conquest 2019 startup challenge by BITS Pilani which opened new doors in terms of partnerships and investor connections.
    • August 2019 – ScoutMyTrip was invited by DIGITARAYA x tiket.com accelerator programme for expansion into SE Asia.
    ScoutMyTrip Founders Receiving Award at Maharashtra Startup Week
    ScoutMyTrip Founders Receiving Award at Maharashtra Startup Week

    Earlier Awards include being chosen as one of the top 20 travel tech startups by FICCI in 2017, Top 10 startups in India (Silicon India), and many more.

    ScoutMyTrip – Future Plans

    ScoutMyTrip has received a positive response from the traveler community; it has partnered with reputed brands to maintain the flow. Over the last two years, ScoutMyTrip has been aggressively improving its Scout and agent network to service the ever-increasing customer requirements. The company’s business partners include Treebo Hotels, OYO, Agoda, Booking.com, MyChoize self-drive cars, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Honda Cars India to name a few.

    Over the next 1-2 years, ScoutMytrip is looking at consolidating the Indian market where there is a churn in the making as observed by its team.

    For its long-term vision, ScoutMyTrip aspires to be present in every aspect of a road trip. The ScoutMyTrip team has christened this plan as ‘Dashboard to Dhabha’, where the idea is to integrate ScoutMyTrip into cars to make it easier for car owners to conceive a journey. This comprises showing recommendations of other roadtrippers, real and live assistance from Scouts all over the country, detours to explore the countryside, and other provisions. This shall enable ScoutMyTrip to create an extensive database which would then be used to provide up to date, real-time information in assisting holidaymakers.

    After spending a week in Indonesia understanding the travel and tourism industry, the co-founders are considering expansion into a new market next year. They are in discussions with partners to venture into the SE Asian markets and provide a full suite of services not limited to hotels, flights, and last mile connectivity for trips.

    It is hard to navigate through the maze and there is a long way before we as a country make it simpler for startups. And advice is not easy to come by, we had to learn a lot of it ourselves- Vineet Raja


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    FAQs

    Who are the Founders of ScoutMyTrip?

    Deepak Ananth and Vineet Rajan were the founders of ScoutMyTrip. Rajan left the company in 2021.

    What is ScoutMyTrip?

    It is an Indias trip planner, which conflates human intelligence with artificial intelligence to help plan the perfect road trip for individuals. ScoutMyTrip works for all sorts of outings, from short weekend travels to long excursions.

    What is ScoutMyTrip Business Model?

    ScoutMyTrip is a freemium product. Here, the customers can sign up for free on the website and can plan their road trips using the planner for a lifetime. The planner allows the user to add 25-way points (Google allows you just 10) on their route. It suggests places to stay and eat, gas stations, and things to do—all under one platform.

    Who are the competitors of ScoutMyTrip?

    The ScoutMyTrip competitors include:

    • Google Maps
    • Road Trippers
    • Furkot
    • Easy Roads
    • Highway Delite

  • List of Top Travel and Tourism Startups in India

    “It will be much more about responsible travel now. We are going to value our freedom a lot more” – Deep Kalra, Founder of MakeMyTrip on impact of Covid on travel industry

    The travel and tourism industry is one of the largest industries in India, it’s a major driver of economic growth globally. India’s tourism industry is experiencing a good period of growth, driven by the flourishing Indian middle class, growth in high spending foreign tourists and coordinated government campaigns to promote ‘Incredible India’. But Due to restrictions linked to Covid-19, the number of foreign tourist in India during 2021 decreased to 1.52 million compared to 2.74 million in 2020, dropping by 44.5%, though foreign exchange earnings grew during the same period, as per the India Tourism Statistics 2022 report. In 2019, India saw 10.93 million foreign tourist arrivals, which dropped by 75% in 2020.

    In 2021, the travel and tourism industry in India contributed around 178 billion U.S. dollars to the country’s GDP. Just a few days ago the Indian government has said that the country’s tourism sector will recover to the pre-pandemic level by mid-2024 , they also said that by 2030, the tourism sector will contribute $250 billion to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).According to the recent India Travel Market Report by Phocuswright, the total Indian travel market stood at US$19.1 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach $40.4 billion in 2025, with online penetration reaching 58% in 2025.

    The booming IT and outsourcing industry has led to a growing number of business trips made by foreigners to India. After Covid, along with work from home, a new trend has come, i.e., workcation for which travel companies are coming up with very good offers and packages. These plans comprise elegant and peaceful places to work with sightseeing and event sports in the evening. These packages are varied and diverse.

    From choosing destinations to connecting with locals and customizing the holiday, the travel startup business in India is looking to add a new dimension to the ever-evolving traveling story.

    Here is the list of successful tour and travel startups.

    Travel & Tourism Industry in India – Key Highlights

    Top Travel and Tourism Startups in India:

    1. MakeMyTrip
    2. ClearTrip
    3. Goibibo
    4. OYO Rooms
    5. Pickyourtrail
    6. ScoutMyTrip
    7. Thrillophilia
    8. Travel Triangle
    9. goMowgli
    10. Tripoto
    11. ExTravelMoney
    12. Nearify
    13. TripHobo
    14. iTraveller
    15. SeekSherpa
    16. SOTC
    17. Expedia

    Travel & Tourism Industry in India – Key Highlights

    Best Tourism and Travel startup – Key Highlights

    Also Read: Travel and Tourism Industry Trends in 2021: Post-Covid Scenario


    Top 20 Travel and Tourism Startups in India

    MakeMyTrip

    Founders Deep Kalra
    Founded In 2000
    Headquarters Gurugram, Haryana

    MakeMyTrip is one of the oldest travel startup in India . The inspiration for this startup came to Kalra when he was booking a holiday to Thailand. He realized that the internet could offer more competitive prices by cutting out the middleman. MakeMyTrip’s mission is to provide customers a one-stop-shop for all their travel needs by providing online travel services that include flight tickets, domestic and international holiday packages, hotel reservations, rail and bus tickets.

    ClearTrip

    Founders Stuart Crighton; Matthew Spacie‎; Hrush Bhatt
    Founded In 2016
    Headquarters Mumbai

    Cleartrip, headquartered in Mumbai, was founded by Stuart Crighton, Hrush Bhatt in the year 2005. The company operates an online travel aggregator website for booking flights and train tickets, hotel reservations, and activities in India and the Middle East countries. Cleartrip is one of the few business travel startups in India. It has offices across India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. Cleartrip is another travel tech company in India, started its services to the Persian Gulf nations of Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt. On June 21, 2018, Cleartrip announced the acquisition of Saudi Arabia-based online travel aggregator (OTA) Flyin.

    Clear trip also operates –

    • Cleartrip for Business, an online corporate travel management tool. It is a business travel solution for companies
    • Agent Box, a travel tool for travel agents.
    • Cleartrip Mobile, a travel booking app for consumers.
    • Expressway, to let users store traveller profile and payment details securely to make one-click bookings.
    • Flexifly, a solution that enables flyers to change their travel date and time and switch flights between airlines without any hefty penalties.

    Goibibo

    Founder Ashish Kashyap
    Founded In 2007
    Headquarters Gurugram, Haryana

    Within few years goibibo became a big payer in travel industry. Goibibo acquired redBus in 2013 to enhance its product offering. The 2016 merger of MMT and Goibibo gave MMT depth of content and an access to a bigger consumer base. It’s core value differentiator is the most trusted user experience, be it in terms of quickest search and booking, fastest payments, settlement or refund processes. Along with the usual services travel startups provide, Goibibo became the no 1 travel startup to introduce real travel booking currency named as Go Cash which can be used without any restrictions or limits of use.

    In small towns, this start up company has built up good trust and about 48% of new users are associated with tier 2 and tier 3 cities, it has seen a 65% increase in transacting users since January this year and that it has been ‘successful’ in consolidating its position as the ‘second largest’ OTA brand in the country.

    OYO Rooms

    Founder Ritesh Agarwal
    Founded In 2012
    Headquarters Gurugram, Haryana

    It is the largest hospitality startup from the list of top hospitality startups in India comprising budget hotels. It is usually one of the first names that pop up in people’s minds when they think of cost efficient hotel bookings in India. The startup works in liaison with existing hotels and offers travellers vacant rooms at a cheaper price. OYO Rooms start at a nominal price of Rs. 999. Besides bulk renting hotels, they have also invested in their own properties as well. Click here to know how exactly OYO Rooms work.

    The users can also opt for OYO Premium which provides a more-than-basic experience. OYO Rooms are located in the prime areas of the city and therefore they ensure travellers of having the best experience, it is also close to the best sight-seeing destinations and various dining options. The startup also raised an investment of $90 million from Softbank earlier in 2016. In 2019, OYO raised $1.5 Billion in Series F funding led by SoftBank Group, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Sequoia India.

    Pickyourtrail

    Founders Hari Ganapathy and Srinath Shankar
    Founded In 2014
    Headquarters Chennai

    Hari Ganapathy and Srinath Shankar got the idea of the startup after their experience from a self-planned trip to Europe in 2012.  This platform uses deep tech to let travellers create, customize and book international vacations. Pickyourtrail considers more than 40 factors like duration, travel time, ratings, etc to build personalized itineraries that travellers can further customize & book.

    After the trip is booked, travellers can use Pickyourtrail’s app to keep track of bookings and get real-time information on flight and weather updates, restaurant recommendations, and on-trip chat support.

    Their goal is to perform best in the tour and travel business when it comes to international trips.

    ScoutMyTrip

    Founders Vineet Rajan; Deepak Ananth
    Founded In 2016
    Headquarters Thane, Maharashtra

    ScoutMyTrip is a road trip planner ,It works for all sorts of outings, from short weekend travels to long excursions.

    The motive that the duo has been able to solve through their startup is to collate information that is currently very diversified. Basically it is an information portal that makes travel easy and accessible for anyone. The company plans to connect travellers with people who want to travel on any particular vehicle. It will also facilitate customised tour packages.

    With artificial intelligence, customers can create an itinerary containing the information necessary for their road trip—gas stations, toilets, restaurants, hotels to stay, and points of interest. The human intelligence aspect brings in the ability to personalize information as per one’s needs.


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    Thrillophilia

    Founders Chitra Gurnani and Abhishek Daga
    Founded In 2011
    Headquarters Banglore

    The corporate outdoor and experiential learning model adopted by Thrillophilia in its early days, has proven to be of great significance since it was fairly new concept in India.

    Thrillophilia provides you with handpicked adventure travel options. It is best suited for travellers seeking an off-the-beaten-track package for sightseeing, sports, and adventurous activities like water rafting, snorkelling, bungee jumping, and skydiving. The travellers can also curate the best tours and authentic suppliers.

    Travel Triangle

    Founders Sankalp Agarwal, Sanchit Garg, and Prabhat Gupta
    Founded In 2011
    Headquarters Gurugram, Haryana

    Travel Triangle operates their services with a versatile team of 450+ people. Travel Triangle is operating as an online marketplace model bringing both travellers and trusted & expert travel agents on a common platform. Travel Triangle is a SaaS-based customer relationship management (CRM) platform to help them manage and analyse customer interactions and data.

    goMowgli

    Founders Anil Alur and Sunil Abhilash
    Founded In 2013
    Headquarters Mysuru, Karnataka

    Top travel and tourism Startup – goMowgli

    goMowgli is a travel startup that had its name inspired by the fictional character we all loved growing up –Mowgli from Jungle Book. It has a fleet of buses across different states (using the concept of “hop-off buses”) and the travellers can buy a pass for a fixed number of days – a week or two. It is suitable for solo travellers and backpackers who want to travel without a fixed plan or do not want to get in trouble of booking cabs while traveling the city.

    goMowgli claims to be India’s first flexible bus network for travellers. Flexible bus network mean is you can catch the bus anytime you want from any place in their network, and get off anytime, at any place.

    goMowgli will tell you the exact location of the nearest bus when you switch on the GPS feature on your smartphone. The app is growing in popularity very fast. At present, their revenue generation is basically based on the passes they sell (Rs. 1700/day) . And their marketing is mainly based on social media and word of mouth.


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    Tripoto

    Founders Anirudh Gupta and Michael Pargal Lyngdoh
    Founded In Headquarter:- Delhi
    Headquarters Delhi

    Tripoto is a Delhi-based startup founded by Anirudh Gupta and Michael Lyngdoh and one of the best travel startups in India. It allows users to create itineraries for their future trips that they can also share with other travelers. They can share their travel experiences, related content and pictures, itineraries, maps, stories, and reviews.

    The startup has one of the largest communities of travellers in the world where people get a chance to share their travel experiences, discover unique trips and travel itineraries by other travelers and connect with them around the world through the website. Tripoto’s aim is to become the largest source of crowd-sourced travel content platforms in the world by enabling users to share their credible travel information.

    ExTravelMoney

    Founder George Zachariah
    Founded In 2015
    Headquarters Kochi, Kerala

    ExTravelMoney is an online aggregator and marketplace for forex services that bring the hyperlocal eCommerce model to foreign exchange business and is helping users save money on currency exchange and money transfer from and to abroad. Users can use this platform to search for banks and money changers near them who offer these forex services. They can also compare the exchange rates and total cost of a forex service including the services fees, tax charges, even the rating of each forex store they are searching for.

    The users can therefore make an informed decision based on this knowledge and book the cheapest and the best forex services near them directly from their app ExTravelMoney. If you are traveling in a foreign country, foreign exchange is an important component to plan. It isn’t easy to purchase forex due to the time and the hassle it takes in finding the best exchange rates. The website provides travelers with forex dealers across the country to bring them the best available exchange rate in the market and all they need to do is log in to their website, state their forex requirement, and then it connects you to the nearest forex dealer.

    Nearify

    Founders Avelo Roy, Mayank Kumar, Saurav Singh, Vivek Srivastava
    Founded In 2012
    Headquarters Delhi

    Nearify is an app founded by Mayank Kumar, Saurav Singh and Vivek Srivastava in 2012 that provides users with updated information on events that are happening around them. Like information on the city, major tourist attractions, and fairs & festivals happening in the area. All the user needs to do is to key in the name of the city to find listings of meet-ups, workshops, music concerts, and cultural hangout places in their close proximity.

    It is best suited for travelers who want to know what’s happening in other locations of the place they are traveling to and wish to plan their itinerary and also don’t want to miss out on the social events happening in nearby cities or locations.

    TripHobo

    Founders Praveen Kumar, Saket Newaskar, and Karthik Ramachandra
    Founded In 2012
    Headquarters Pune, Maharashtra

    TripHobo is a Pune-based travel startup that has an innovative new travel platform where the collective effort of their dedicated team of travel enthusiasts. They are trying to transform its user’s travel experience by making travel more sharable and personally tailored. The platform lets you connect with travel buddies around the world and hence makes your experience even richer and memorable.

    TripHobo is a vacation planning website that is also the world’s leading vacation planning platform on which you can plan trips to about 150,000 destinations worldwide. It lets users discover great itineraries created by travellers just like them.

    iTraveller

    Founders Shiju Radhakrishnan and Sanjay Kumar
    Founded In 2011
    Headquarters Banglore

    It’s an online travel platform for travellers to explore travel destinations, plan and book their trips in advance. It allows users to dynamically create self-serviced customized travel packages after receiving inquiries from clients.

    The users can also compare reviews and plan their activities and sightseeing for their trips, it also involves native wholesale suppliers who are responsible for the operational aspects of the business of your trip that includes ground handling and fulfillment. iTraveller has created more than 2 lakh trips featuring over 20 travel destinations across the globe and more than 60 native wholesale suppliers from across these destinations. The brand of iTraveller is now changed to Lastminute.

    SeekSherpa

    Founders Sukhmani Singh and Dhruv Raj Gupta
    Founded In 2014
    Headquarters Delhi

    The mobile marketplace connects travellers with the local people in the city you are traveling to. These people are called “Sherpas” and are chosen after a thorough background check and verified authenticity. They offer numerous itineraries, popularly known as “micro tours”, from sightseeing, photography tours, and heritage walks and food walks to explore a location from the eyes of a local guide – Sherpa.

    Sherpas can be from any profession and list experiences that will cost you less than Rs. 3,000 per participant. This is a unique feature that SeekSherpa offers, it helps you in traveling better by interacting with the residents of the place you are seeking to explore. This way, your trip is better, well experienced, and more memorable.

    SOTC

    Founder Mr. Vishal Suri (Managing Director)
    Founded In 1949
    Headquarters Mumbai, India

    Top travel and Tourism Startup in India – SOTC

    SOTC India is a leading travel and tourism company active across various travel segments including Leisure Travel, Incentive Travel and Business Travel. It is one of the leaders in segments, namely Escorted Group Tours, Customized Holidays,  and Incentive Travel amongst others. SOTC offers customized holidays around the world, Corporate Tours and provides packages for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events) related travel needs.

    Conclusion

    Travelling is one of the most exciting and important parts of our life. It teaches us a lot. These startups in the tourism industry in India are helping us to make our journey better, safer, and easier. If we have missed out on any travel startup in India, do let us know in the comments.

    FAQs on Travel Startups in India

    How to start a travel business in India or how to start a travel company in India?

    Best tips to start a travel business in India or a travel company in India:

    • Step 1: Prepare a plan for your travel business.
    • Step 2: Brand your travel business along with dealing in legal formalities.
    • Step 3: Manage your funding strategy.
    • Step 4: Pick a great location and hire employees.

    How to start an online travel agency in India?

    The list of requirements to start an online travel agency in India:

    1. Make a thorough research on your competitors and the market.
    2. Find your own niche in the travel industry.
    3. Build your team.
    4. Take a call on a travel website or a travel software, or both.
    5. Make a strategy for marketing.
    6. Target a location.

  • Bajaj Group Of Companies – All You Need To Know

    Bajaj Group is an Indian multinational company that is one of the oldest and largest conglomerates of India.

    The group comprises 34 companies with around 36,000 employees across businesses such as two- and three-wheelers, insurance and steel, home appliances, travel and finance, etc. Its flagship company Bajaj Auto ranks as the world’s fourth-largest two- and three-wheeler manufacturer. Some of the notable companies are Bajaj Auto Ltd, Bajaj Finserv Ltd, Hercules Hoists Ltd, Bajaj Electricals, Mukand Ltd, Bajaj Hindusthan Ltd and Bajaj Holding & Investment Ltd.

    In recent news, the Bajaj Group has pledged to donate ₹200 crores towards Covid-19 response in addition to ₹100 crores they donated last year to support the government’s fight against the deadly pandemic.

    History And Origin of Bajaj Group
    Flagship Companies of Bajaj Group
    Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) of Bajaj Group
    Bajaj Group – FAQs

    History And Origin of Bajaj Group

    The Bajaj Group of Companies was founded by Jamnalal Bajaj in 1926.

    Jamnalal Bajaj was a freedom fighter and a philanthropist, a close confidante of Mahatma Gandhi. He took the novel step of using business to serve society. His endeavors were taken forth and developed by his sons Shri Kamalnayan Bajaj, Ramakrishna Bajaj, and further by his grandson Shri Rahul Bajaj; who are responsible for blossoming the Group and nurtured it to the marvelous stature that it occupies today.

    All You Need to Know About Bajaj

    Bajaj started its business by setting up a sugar factory in Lakhimpur Kheri of Uttar Pradesh, which was one among the only 30 sugar mills that established the endowment of the sugar industry in India. Today, Bajaj Hindusthan Sugar Ltd. is Asia’s number one sugar manufacturing company and ranks globally among the top four.

    Jamnalal Bajaj strongly believed that the common good was more important than individual gain.

    Flagship Companies of Bajaj Group

    Bajaj Auto Ltd.

    Bajaj Auto manufactures two-wheelers and three-wheelers and is headquartered in Pune, Maharashtra.

    Bajaj Auto Ltd.
    Bajaj Auto Ltd.

    In 1945, Bachraj Trading Corp. Pvt.Ltd., now known as Bajaj Auto Ltd. was founded. Its activity was focused on the selling of foreign motorcycles and auto-rickshaws on the territory of India. In 1959, it was licensed by the government to manufacture two-wheelers and three-wheelers in India. Rahul Bajaj, the son of Kamalnayan Bajaj, later became the head of the Bajaj group in 1965.

    Since the year 1995, Bajaj has manufactured more than a million vehicles per year. Nowadays, Bajaj sells its motorcycles, bajaj automobiles, and auto-rickshaws in more than 50 countries of the world and it can compete on the market due to the low prices for its vehicles.

    Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Co. Ltd

    Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance is a private general insurance company by Bajaj Group. It is a joint venture between Bajaj Finserv Limited and Allianz SE, a German financial services company; where Bajaj Finserv Limited holds 74% and the remaining 26% is held by Allianz SE.

    Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Co. Ltd
    Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Co. Ltd

    In 2001, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance received an Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) certificate of registration which allowed it to conduct general insurance business, including health insurance, in India.

    In January 2014, the company announced it would open up all-women branches.

    Bajaj Finserv Ltd.

    Bajaj Finserv Limited is a part of Bajaj Holdings & Investments Limited. It is a financial services company by Bajaj which focuses on lending, asset management, wealth management, and insurance. It is a consumer-focused company that emphasizes profitable growth and operational efficiency to deliver the best results to all its stakeholders.

    Bajaj Finserv Ltd.
    Bajaj Finserv Ltd.

    Bajaj Finserv won the CIO 100 Innovation Award for two innovations – EMI Card and Flexisaver, for exemplifying the highest level of operational and strategic excellence in information technology (IT).

    Bajaj Electricals Ltd.

    Bajaj Electricals is an Indian consumer electrical equipment manufacturing company based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It has diversified with interests in lighting, luminaries, appliances, fans, LPG-based generators, engineering, and projects. Its main domains are lighting, consumer durable, engineering, and projects.

    Bajaj Electricals Ltd.
    Bajaj Electricals Ltd.

    It was incorporated on 14 July 1938 under the Indian Company Act, 1913 as a public company limited.


    Bajaj Finance Ltd.

    Bajaj Finance is a bajaj group subsidiary of Bajaj Finserv. It is a non-banking financial company that deals with Consumer Finance, SME (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) and Commercial Lending, and Wealth Management. The company has 294 consumer branches and 497 rural locations with over 33,000+ distribution points, with headquarters situated in Pune, Maharashtra.

    Hercules Hoists Ltd.

    Hercules Hoists is a manufacturer of material-handling equipment. The company sells its products under the brand name Indef.

    Bajaj Hercules Hoists Ltd.
    Bajaj Hercules Hoists Ltd.

    Incorporated in the year 1962 with technical and financial collaboration from Heinrich de Fries GmbH, Germany; it is a Small Cap company (having a market cap of INR 304.80 Crore) operating in the Industrial Consumables sector.

    Hind Musafir Agency Ltd.

    Hind Musafir Agency Ltd.
    Hind Musafir Agency Ltd.

    Hind Musafir Agency Ltd. (HMA) is a full-service, IATA-certified travel agency. A part of the Bajaj Group of companies, it is in the business with over 50 years of experience. HMA is also recognized by the Department of Tourism (DOT) India and is a member of “The Travel Agents Association of India” (TAAI) and “Pacific Asia Travel Association” (PATA). HMA has also placed a strong IT backbone with an AMADEUS-enabled system for online Air Bookings.

    Mukand Ltd.

    Mukand Limited is a multi-division company involved in the business of Manufacturing Steel and Industrial Machinery. Incorporated in 1937 in Mumbai, it manufactures stainless steel, alloy steel, stainless steel billets, exporter of hot-rolled bars.

    Mukand Ltd.
    Mukand Ltd.

    Today, Mukand Limited is a leading supplier of alloy steel to the automobile and auto component industry and a leader in the manufacture of high-grade stainless steel in India.

    Bajaj Holdings and Investment Ltd.

    Bajaj Holdings and Investment Ltd. is a non-banking financial company that is primarily an investment company. The Company focuses on generating long-term capital appreciation. It also provides strong financial, managerial, and operational support to its group companies. Bajaj Auto Holdings Ltd. is a subsidiary of the Company. It is headquartered in Pune.

    Bajaj Holdings & Investment Ltd.
    Bajaj Holdings & Investment Ltd.

    Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) of Bajaj Group

    The CSR Policy of Bajaj Group involves various welfare activities that are guided by the concept of trusteeship in business. It is the group’s philosophy that the true and full measure of growth, success, and progress lies beyond the balance sheets or conventional economic indices.

    The social and welfare objectives of the Bajaj Group are being fulfilled through the many Trusts and Foundations it has established spending up to 100 million (US$1.4 million) every year.

    The major CSR areas of Bajaj Group are Health, Women Empowerment, Education, Rural Development, Environment & Natural Resources and, Self- Reliance.

    Conclusion

    For Indian society, Bajaj Group is more than a corporate identity. It is an incentive for social empowerment. It offers an extensive range of products and services, now standing tall in the Corporate World.

    Bajaj Group – FAQs

    Who is the founder of the Bajaj company?

    Jamnalal Bajaj is the founder of the Bajaj company.

    When was the Bajaj company founded?

    The Bajaj company was founded in 1926.

    Is Bajaj an Indian Company?

    Yes, Bajaj is an Indian conglomerate founded by Jamnalal Bajaj an Indian freedom fighter.

    Who is the chairman of Bajaj Group?

    Rahul Bajaj is the chairman of Bajaj Auto. Rahul’s grandfather Jamnalal Bajaj founded the Bajaj Group in 1926 and his father Kamalnayan Bajaj succeeded him in 1942.

    How many companies are there in the Bajaj group?

    There are 34 companies in the Bajaj group including Bajaj Auto Ltd, Bajaj Holdings and Investments Ltd, Mukand Ltd, Bajaj Electricals Ltd, Bajaj International Pvt. Ltd, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Pvt. Ltd and Bajaj Finserv Ltd.

    Is Bajaj Finance good for long-term investment?

    Bajaj Finance offers an interest rate that is higher than that offered by most FD providers. This makes it ideal for you to invest in Bajaj Finance Fixed Deposits for long-term benefits.

    Is Bajaj FD safe?

    Bajaj Finance FD carries FAAA rating by CRISIL and MAAA rating by ICRA, which indicate the highest safety for your capital. These ratings imply a safe investment environment and ensure that you get your returns in a timely manner, without any default on the part of the issuer.

  • Airbnb- Personalizing accomodations in your budget!

    The idea of welcoming a couple of strangers into your home is scary. And so it letting yourself stay in a strange home is. But almost a decade ago, some brilliant minds saw an entrepreneurial opportunity in this and launched Airbnb. These brilliant minds are none other than Brian Joseph Chesky, Joseph Gebbia, and Nathan Blecharczyk who launched Airbnb in 2008.

    Airbnb Highlights

    Company Name Airbnb
    Headquarter San Francisco
    Sector Hospitality, Travel Accomodation
    CEO Brian Joseph Chesky
    Founded 2008
    Website airbnb.co.in

    Airbnb – About and How it works
    Airbnb – USP and Innovation
    Airbnb – Founders and Team
    Airbnb – How did it start?
    Airbnb – Startup Launch
    Airbnb – Business Model and Revenue Model
    Airbnb – Competitors
    Airbnb – Funding and Investors
    Airbnb – Growth
    Airbnb – FAQs

    Airbnb – About and How it works

    Airbnb is nothing but an accommodation marketplace that provides access to over 6 million unique places to stay comfortably and at their leisure in nearly 100,000 cities and 191 countries. Interestingly, Airbnb also offers access to local communities and interests through more than 30,000 activities run by hosts across over 1,000 markets around the world so that you can be a traveler and not just a tourist. It entered India in 2016. Since its inception in India, the company has around 45,000 listings with Goa being it’s a most popular network with 6000 listings.

    So all in all, one can safely say that Airbnb is an online marketplace that connects locals who want to rent out their house to immigrants who are looking for accommodations in the local area.

    Airbnb – USP and Innovation

    There are quite a few unique selling factors of Airbnb including a combination of factors, but the highlights are primarily the financial ones.

    • The guests who come through Airbnb get good value accommodation with a wide array of price points that the user can choose from. This ranges from a few pounds a night to hundreds and thousands with often such prime locations where a hotel would cost infinitely more than Airbnb accommodations.
    • Airbnb hosts can cash in more on spare space that they have available in their homes. So it’s a win-win for the guests and the hosts and also for the platform, Airbnb.

    Airbnb – Founders and Team

    • Brian Joseph Chesky, CEO – Brian is a very known American technology entrepreneur and also the co-founder and CEO of Airbnb. Chesky was named one of Time’s “100 Most Influential People of 2015”. Chesky attended the Rhode Island School of Design and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design. Post that, Chesky worked as an industrial designer and strategist at 3DID, Inc. in Los Angeles. And then he went on to co-found Airbnb with his fellow co-founders.
    • Joseph Gebbia, CPO – Joseph is one of the finest designers and Internet entrepreneurs around the globe. Joseph has quite a few recognitions on board like he was listed in BusinessWeek’s Top 20 Best Young Tech Entrepreneurs in the year 2009, followed by being named in Inc. Magazine’s Thirty Under Thirty in 2010, and in 2013, he was named in Fortune Magazine’s Forty-under-Forty.
    • Nathan Blecharczyk – Nate is an American billionaire businessman. He is the co-founder and chief strategy officer of Airbnb. Also, he is the chairman of Airbnb China. Nate is a Harvard Graduate and was working as an engineer at OPNET Technologies before co-founding Airbnb.

    Airbnb – How did it start?

    In case you’re wondering how Airbnb actually started? This is how it did. The Airbnb story is full of determination and adventure. All of it started in 2007 when Airbnb founders Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia had just moved from New York. They were legit surviving without employment and were having serious trouble paying their rents. So to overcome this situation, they were looking for a way to earn some extra cash. And it’s during this time that the co-founders noticed that all hotel rooms in the city were booked because there were a lot of visitors coming to the local Industrial Design conference.

    The young and talented minds saw an opportunity here and following that, they bought a few airbeds and quickly curated and put up a site called “Air Bed and Breakfast.” Their idea was quite basic and it was all about offering visitors a place to sleep and a lush breakfast in the morning. This freshly turned entrepreneur duo charged $80 to the visitors for each night.

    And it quite turned out that their idea succeeded and the first Airbnb guests were born. And they were a 30-year-old Indian man, a 35-year-old woman from Boston and a 45-year-old father from Utah sleeping on their floor. And that’s how Airbnb was born.

    Airbnb – Startup Launch

    Airbnb started in 2008. But it came to India almost after 8 years of its inception, i.e., in 2016. Soon after Airbnb’s launch in India, it announced a strategic partnership with India’s largest media conglomerate, The Times Group. This association was done in order to expand Airbnb’s operations in the country and build a more channeled and a localized network. It had just been a year after this collaboration that Airbnb launched a travel category called Trips. This was initially available in Delhi and then later expanded to Goa.

    In June 108, Airbnb launched ‘Experiences’ in its ‘Trips’ category to offer its travelers the chance to explore unique destinations by providing them with handcrafted activities powered by locals.

    “We have offered Experiences in New Delhi and Goa and the product is doing quite well. It grew over sixfold last year, and will continue to grow at a very fast rate,” said Nate.


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    Airbnb – Business Model and Revenue Model

    This is how the business model of Airbnb works. Airbnb is an online marketplace, which lets its users rent out their properties or spare rooms to guests. In this process, Airbnb takes 3% commission of every booking from the hosts, and between 6% to 12% from the guests.

    Airbnb offers a plethora of criteria to list for or search property in a particular destination. These criteria range from locating or renting a shared room to a complete house, to having a lavish swimming pool to having basics like TV and washing machines. There are pictures of the property listed on the site, and both the hosts and the guests get a full map listing.

    Airbnb – Competitors

    Though the concept is new and recently gained all its popularity, Airbnb still faces tough competition in India. Its main rival in terms of market standing in the country is a homegrown hospital chain namely, Oyo Hotels and Homes. Though both are different in how they run and operate, they still cross paths as both of their end customers are the same. Oyo mainly operates as a full-stack fulfillment-led model where it normally acquires the entire hotels and homes on a franchise-based or leasing model and then goes on to renovate the same. Whereas on the other hand, Airbnb focuses majorly on the homestay accommodations.

    Airbnb – Funding and Investors

    Airbnb has received an all-round of $4.4 billion in funding over the years and currently is being valued at $35 billion.

    • In January 2009, in just one year of its inception, Airbnb received $20,000 in venture funding from Y Combinator.
    • The next funding round came in April 2009, when Airbnb raised $600,000 from Sequoia Capital, with renowned participants like Youniversity Ventures partners Jawed Karim, Keith Rabois, and Kevin Hartz.
    • This was followed by funding round in November 2010, where the company raised $7.2 million in Series A funding led by Greylock Partners and Sequoia Capital.
    • Then came the mega funding year, July 2011, when the company went on to raise $112 million in financing round which was led by Andreessen Horowitz. Other investors who participated in this funding round were Digital Sky Technologies, General Catalyst Partners, and A-Grade Investments partners Ashton Kutcher and Guy Oseary.
    • In April 2014, Airbnb again closed an investment of $450 million by TPG Capital. Right around the same time, it acquired additional funding by Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, Dragoneer Investment Group, T. Rowe Price and Sherpa Capital.
    • Then came the June 2015 funding, when Airbnb raised $1.5 billion in Series E funding. This round was led by General Atlantic, and there was also some huge participation from Hillhouse Capital Group, Tiger Management, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, GGV Capital, China Broadband Capital, and Horizons Ventures.
    • In September 2016, the company raised a grand amount of $555.5 million in a funding round led by Google Capital and Technology Crossover Ventures.
    • And then again a year later, in March 2017, the company raised $1 billion in funding, which brought its total funding to more than $3 billion and at this point in time Airbnb was valued at $31 billion.
    • It’s latest funding round happened in September 2018, where it came to raise $25.92 million from two undisclosed investors.

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    Airbnb – Growth

    • Airbnb India hosts collectively earned more than to $28 million (over Rs 190 crore) till date
    • The Indian hosts have welcomed more than 800,000 guests
    • Guests in India, through Airbnb, spent $61 daily, on an average
    • Airbnb has seen a steady rise in popularity in India over the years and the number of listings is increasing at an increasing rate of 150%
    • Airbnb’s business in India has doubled over the years
    • On average, 1.8 million Indian have used Airbnb in its 4 years of operations in India
    • Airbnb India recently signed a strategic partnership with its main competitor, OYO Rooms. One of the prospects of this association include listing OYO’s properties on Airbnb
    • Airbnb recently introduced ‘Plus Homes’ in India, where the company is featuring homes with high ratings.
    • Globally, Airbnb has over 2 million listings
    • And is currently active in over 190 countries and 34,000 cities.
    • Airbnb hosts, throughout the world, have hosted over 40 million guests.
    • The company is worth an estimated 35 billion

    Airbnb – FAQs

    What is Airbnb?

    Airbnb is an online marketplace that connects locals who want to rent out their house to immigrants who are looking for accommodations in the local area.

    How does Airbnb work?

    Booking is made through Airbnb where the traveller pays the amount mentioned by the host and some additional money as transaction charges. The host approves the booking. Traveller stays there and finally, Airbnb pays the amount to the host after deducting their commission.

    Who are the competitors of Airbnb?

    Airbnb competitors in India:-

    • HomeToGo
    • FlipKey
    • OneFineStay
    • Vrbo
    • HouseTrip

    What are the rules for an Airbnb?

    Some common house rules examples that many Airbnb hosts include in their listing pages:

    • No loud noise after 11 pm
    • No food or drinks in bedrooms
    • No parties or events
    • No smoking
    • No pets / Pets allowed

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  • Deep Kalra: Travel Booking Made Easy Through MakeMyTrip

    Work, assignments, and stress. These three words take up significant time in a millennial’s day. And it’s only going to get more hectic. As a result, most of us and not just the millennials yearn for that much needed break. A long trip to Goa or visiting monuments usually does the job of shedding some stress. This itself begs for an answer to how one could reach their destination. How does one avoid trip agents who make profits from your travel plans, leaving with you a lighter wallet?

    Luckily, Deep Kalra, an alumnus of the prestigious Indian Institute of Management has made planning trips easier using his brilliance and ingenuity—MakeMyTrip.

    Deep Kalra – Biography

    Name Deep Kalra
    Born Hyderabad
    Spouse Amrita Kalra
    Education St. Columba’s School, St Stephen’s College, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A)
    Known For Founder of MakeMyTrip
    Net Worth Estimated $136 Million (2020)

    Who is Deep Kalra?
    Deep Kalra – Education
    Deep Kalra – Initial Struggles
    Deep Kalra’s MakeMyTrip Ideation
    The Rise After The Storm – MakeMyTrip
    Deep Kalra – Achievements
    Deep Kalra as An Inspiration

    Who is Deep Kalra?

    Deep Kalra is an Indian businessman and Founder of MakeMyTrip. An ambitious and talented man,  who has over 27 years of work experience in e-commerce, sales, marketing, corporate banking, financial analysis and senior management roles.

    “Tough times teach you the most,” he says

    Deep Kalra - Story
    Deep Kalra – Founder, MakeMyTrip

    He tells budding entrepreneurs to consider life as a marathon. An idol both on and off field, Deep’s life is all about hard work and determination. Deep has been instrumental in making MakeMyTrip India’s number one trip advisor.


    MakeMyTrip Success Story- Founder, Business Model, Funding, Team, News, Revenue
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    Deep Kalra – Education

    He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, India, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, India.

    Deep Kalra – Initial Struggles

    Deep started with ABN Amro Bank. After serving for three years, he decided to start his own venture, and brought AMF bowling. This was an attempt to launch the ten pin bowling revolution in India, but couldn’t take off. Deep had to go back to the corporate sector and joined GE capital. His work with AMF bowling wasn’t successful because his boss who used to live in the United States did not provide any sort of mentorship. Even after opening 200 lanes, bowling couldn’t strike the right chords with the Indian crowd.

    The internet sector was on the rise during the mid-90s and web sites like Yahoo! and Google were touching new heights. Deep Kalra decided to use the internet as a catalyst for a new business.

    Deep Kalra’s MakeMyTrip Ideation

    MakeMyTrip Logo
    MakeMyTrip Logo

    Deep’s wish was to kick out nosy and stingy travel agents and streamline the travel and holiday planning industry so that travelers found it easier to plan cost effective trips. After a backing of 2 million USD from eVentures and co-founders like Keyur Joshi, Rajesh Magow and Sachin Bhatia, he launched one of the most popular websites in today’s time—MakeMyTrip.

    Exploration and wanderlust are on every person’s bucket list. The thrill and excitement of venturing beyond one’s nest is what nearly each one of us longs for. With the introduction of MakeMyTrip, these yearnings have become a reality. Initially the MakeMyTrip team chose to serve only India-United States trips. But destiny had other plans as the dotcom bubble burst two days after MakeMyTrip began operations; the team lost its funding in entirety. The situation was so bad that Deep had to cut down his team size by half and reduce the renumeration of executives in his company by half as well.


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    The Rise After The Storm – MakeMyTrip

    MakeMyTrip was one of the few companies to survive the bubble bust. Later, there was a steady rise in the marketing value of MakeMyTrip. Deep and MakeMyTrip’s breakthrough came after IRCTC enabled online booking of tickets. This meant MakeMyTrip’s business model concurring with IRCTC’s plans. The outcome from this new way of business raked in profits for the company, and Deep decided to widen his portfolio and his brand began to offer trip services across India. The tie-up with IRCTC worked wonders.

    This boosted the company’s popularity and the number of daily visitors accessing MakeMyTrip’s website increased dramatically. Every 1 in 12 flight tickets was now booked from MakeMyTrip! With an army of 2,000,000 customers, they crossed the 1000 crore INR mark in the year 2008. In the same year, the company recorded profits of 5 million USD. A major turnover for a company that had faced the wrath of the dotcom crash. This established Deep Kalra and his team as entrepreneurs.

    Perhaps, MakeMyTrip’s biggest achievement was its listing in NASDAQ in 2010. This blew off its competitors and made it a top gun.

    Under Deep’s leadership, the bridge between the Indian and the U.S. stock exchange narrowed. This is no easy feat and commends respect!


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    Deep Kalra – Achievements

    • Member of the Executive council of NASSCOM.
    • His company (MakeMyTrip) was recognized as the “Best Travel Portal India” by World Travel Awards in 2013 and 2014.
    • Listed as “The Best Companies to Work For” by Great Place to Work Institute during 2010, 2011, 2012,2013.
    • Deep Kalra is also a member of CII’s sub tourism committee.
    • He is the chairperson of NASSCOM Internet Working Group.
    • Deep Kalra’s net worth is estimated around $136 Million as of 2020

    Deep Kalra as An Inspiration

    Deep Karla shows how to navigate through tough times. His education credentials coupled with his achievements have established him as a success story who brought a change in India. Recovering from any drastic event at a global scale is no piece of cake, requiring meticulous planning, strategy, execution and some luck. MakeMyTrip was able to do it. After IRCTC brought the online services, Deep made the best out of the opportunity at hand. MakeMyTrip has a current market cap of more than 2 billion USD. Deep Kalra’s name shall be embellished in gold on the list of India’s prominent entrepreneurs!